grandiflora

Grandiflora is a botanical term derived from Latin, combining grandis meaning large or great with flos meaning flower. In plant naming, the epithet grandiflora (or grandiflorum in some languages) is used to indicate large flowers, and the term appears across several genera as a descriptive descriptor or in cultivar-group classifications.

In roses, grandiflora designates a historical class developed from crosses between Hybrid Tea and Floribunda roses. Grandiflora roses are typically noted for their large blooms, which are often borne on long, sturdy stems suitable for cutting. The plants tend to be vigorous and productive, with a growth habit that can be taller and more open than pure Hybrid Teas but not as densely clustered as classic Floribundas. The grouping emerged in the mid-20th century and has persisted in horticultural usage as a way to describe roses that combine the floral qualities of both parent classes.

Beyond roses, grandiflora or grandiflorum appears as a species epithet in other genera to signal large flowers. Examples include Jasminum grandiflorum, commonly known as Arabian jasmine, and Lilium grandiflorum, a name sometimes associated with large-flowered lilies and often linked to the Easter lily in cultivation. In these cases, the epithet serves as a descriptive label rather than a formal cultivar group.

Overall, grandiflora functions as both a descriptive term for large flowers and a traditional classification in some plant groups, reflecting the enduring emphasis on flower size in botanical naming and horticultural naming conventions.